Kate has a predominantly public law and regulatory law practice. Her expertise is in complex judicial review proceedings (see, for example, Byron Aged Care v Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner [2022] FCA 1060 (unled against Silk) and Jele Chemists Pty Ltd v Australian Community Pharmacy Authority [2023] FCA 1652 (unled against Silk)) and appeals under s 44 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (see, for example, John Holland Pty Ltd v Bartlett [2023] FCA 1030 (unled against Silk)).
Kate has also appeared in a number of special leave applications and Full Court hearings in the High Court. For example, Kate appeared for the plaintiffs in two recent High Court cases on the operation and application of the power in s 51(xix) of the Constitution: the ground-breaking case of Love v Commonwealth of Australia (2020) 270 CLR 152 (where she was led by Stephen Keim SC) and, Chetcuti v Commonwealth of Australia (2021) 95 ALJR 704; [2021] HCA 25 (where she was led by Georgina Schoff SC and Georgina Costello SC).
Otherwise, Kate regularly appears, both led and unled, in federal and state jurisdictions at trial and appellate level.
In June 2022, Kate was appointed Chair of the Public Records Review Committee of the Queensland State Archives. Prior to being appointed Chair, Kate was a member of the Committee for six years.
In October 2022, Kate was elected to the Executive of the Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section of the Law Council of Australia. Kate also currently serves as the Editor of the Law Council of Australia’s publication, Chapter III.
Areas of Practice Administrative and Public Law, Appellate Law, Constitutional Law, Industrial Relations Law, Regulatory Law, Statutory Entitlements Law, Workplace Investigations
